Valle Cartel Suspect Extradited to USA

José Raúl Amaya Arrested in Honduras

José Raúl Amaya was arrested in Honduras

José Raúl Amaya, who was wanted on drug trafficking and money laundering charges by the United States, was arrested in El Porvenir, according to Security Secretariat Leonel Sauceda. He was presented before the Supreme Court of Justice for extradition to the United States.

James D. Nealon, US Ambassador to Honduras

James D. Nealon, US Ambassador to Honduras

US Ambassador, James D. Nealon, tweeted the news yesterday touting, “The capture of Jose Raúl Amaya Argueta proves that those involved in organized crime will not evade justice in Honduras.”

The arrest warrant was issued back in January of this year, when the U.S. government requested extradition of the 49-year-old Amaya, brother-in-law of Jose Inocente Valle who, along with his wife, Marlen Griselda Amaya, was extradited to the United States on Jan. 23, 2015.

Amaya is suspected of being a member of the Valle cartel. In August 2014, the U.S. government added the Valle cartel and its leader, Miguel Arnulfo Valle, to the list of drug trafficking organizations, calling it “one of Central America’s most prolific” networks. Miguel Arnulfo and Luis Alonso, were extradited to the United States on Dec. 18, 2014.

Between 2012 and February of this year, Honduras extradited three other suspected drug traffickers to the United States; Carlos Arnaldo Lobo has been sentenced by a court in Florida to 20 years in prison, while Juving Alexander Suazo and Hector Emilio Fernandez are awaiting trial.


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